Iowans next month will celebrate the state’s Century Farms, which have been in one family for 100 years, and Heritage Farms that have been around for 150 years. That strong tradition of generation after generation working the land is the pillar of Iowa’s agriculture and is the envy of Chinese agriculture officials, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) China market study tour learned last week.

In meeting after meeting with the Iowans, national and regional agricultural officials said their country wants to emulate the U.S. family farm tradition as they work to reform agriculture and increase food production. As part of that plan, they want to add technology and income potential to draw younger people back to the farm and away from jobs in the city.

"We want to start a new era in China, an era...